Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University football team rolled up a season-high 455 yards but it wasn't enough to escape Hanson Stadium with the victory on Saturday, falling 24-20 to Northwest Conference rival Pacific University.

PLU (1-2, 1-1 NWC) outgained the host Boxers (1-2, 1-1 NWC) by a 455 to 346 margin and dominated time of possession in a back-and-forth matchup featuring five lead changes.

The Lutes wasted little time getting on the board, scoring on their opening possession for the second consecutive week. Pacific Lutheran methodically marched down the field, capping off an eight-yard, 84-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Cole Chandler to DJ Winter. The host Boxers struck back late in the first quarter, taking a 7-6 lead, but a two-yard touchdown run from Wesley Nixon pushed the advantage back to the Lutes who enjoyed a 14-10 edge at the halftime intermission.

PLU would surrender the lead early in the third quarter with Pacific mounting a nine-play, 73-yard drive to open the half before the Lutes answered with an extended drive of their own, marching 82-yards on 12 plays, capped off by a Kyle Madsen one-yard plunge to take the 20-17 lead. The lead ultimately proved fleeting with Pacific's Brandon Boyd rumbling 72-yards for a score just 22 seconds later in what proved to be the final score of the game.

The Lutes threatened late in the fourth quarter. Marc Gallant ran 63 yards to the 22-yard line and a Jacob King reception inched the Lutes to the nine-yard line. PLU advanced to the four with a Nixon reception but were unable to find paydirt with a sack and an incomplete pass giving the ball back to the Boxers with 5:36 remaining. Pacific grinded out two first downs on the next possession and was able to run out the clock to secure the win.

PLU controlled the ball for six more minutes than the Boxers but two turnovers sabotaged the Lutes late in the second half.

"It was a great football game," said Head Coach Scott Westering. "We made some big plays and gave up some big plays. We also shot ourselves in the foot in the red zone and had some real untimely penalties."

Chandler finished with a career-high 301 passing yards, completing 21 of his 30 pass attempts. King and Winter were Chandler's top targets with King finishing with seven catches and 95 yards while Winter hauled in six passes for 97 yards. PLU accrued 154 yards on the ground with Gallant finishing with 81 yards on five carries while Kyle Madsen racked up 53 yards on 10 carries.

Defensively, Travis McMillion led the way with 10 tackles,including two tackles for loss while Isaiah Watkins finished with eight tackles and one TFL.

The Lutes return to Sparks Stadium next weekend for Homecoming, hosting Whitworth University at 1 p.m.